Chapter 1818: A Love Rival
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
“Do you mean that the media had suddenly found out about the Qiao family’s a.s.sets because of Qiao Nan’s whistleblowing?” If that were really the case, his earlier worry could be reduced by half. “Where’s she?” Zhai Yaohui had still not seen the main character whom the father and son had been discussing.
Zhai Yaohui felt that he would be able to get a good grasp of the kind of person Qiao Nan was if he had the chance to meet her personally.
“I’ve already said that she’s at home. She’s in her own home. It seems like she’s truly been hurt by the Qiao family and intends on settling down in Qingshui Town. She used her money to purchase a house and has been renting an apartment from Xiao Xu for the time being.” He had already answered the question before. It seemed that his dad was indeed getting forgetful now as he aged.
Xiao Xu, who had been called on with no preparations, was stunned. He did not say anything and could only stand there, nodding foolishly, agreeing with whatever the chief had just said. He understood the last part of the chief’s words, but why couldn’t he understand anything about what the chief had been talking to the old chief about?
The moment the old chief arrived, he had been constantly asking about Sister Qiao. He was sure that Sister Qiao and the chief were old acquaintances. But what he had heard next seemed a little mysterious. If he had not heard wrong, the chief viewed Sister Qiao as a marriage partner, and the old chief had made a trip down to take a look at his future daughter-in-law, Sister Qiao.
That could not be right. He must have been thinking too much, just like he had a few days earlier when the chief had made a special trip down to look for Sister Qiao. He was thinking too much.
Xiao Xu could not resist the urge to pinch himself on the thigh. It hurt so badly that Xiao Xu’s eyes were now br.i.m.m.i.n.g with tears. He was so harsh to himself! But because that pinch brought him to tears, Xiao Xu was sure that he was not overthinking this. This had been exactly what the old chief and the chief had been talking about.
In mere three days, Sister Qiao had turned from a temporary caretaker of the chief that his mom had hired into the future wife of the chief! That was crazy!
Zhai Yaohui and Zhai Sheng were deep in conversation. Because the father and son had not interacted at length like that in a long time, Miao Jing chose to remain silent and allow the father and son to continue their conversation. Anyway, Zhai Yaohui knew exactly what she was curious about and would pose her questions on her behalf. All she had to do was perk her ears up to listen carefully.
From Zhai Sheng’s words, Miao Jing had gotten a rough sense of the kind of person Qiao Nan was. But Miao Jing felt that there was nothing better than seeing her for herself. That would be the only way for her to make a judgment call. Up until now, she had only heard about how Qiao Nan was as a person. What she really wanted to do was to ‘see’ for herself. “Zhai Sheng, we’ve been talking for such a long time. You should at least let us see her.”
The bracelet was still in her possession. She wanted very much to give it away.
“That won’t be possible for now.” Zhai Sheng refused.
“Why?”
“Why!” Compared to the calm and collected Zhai Yaohui, Miao Jing was much more agitated. “Do you mean that she doesn’t want to get married?” That could not be the case. She was almost forty years old. Since they were both women, Miao Jing knew that it was impossible for Qiao Nan not to yearn for a family of her own or to have children at such an age.
Perhaps, once Zhai Sheng married Qiao Nan, they would not even have to do anything before Qiao Nan would find a way to catch the last bus and have a child while she was still fertile.
Even though Miao Jing did not know how long more she could look after children for, she now had hope of having a grandson at the very least.
It was still his father who knew Zhai Sheng best. Thinking about Zhai Sheng’s ambiguous answer, Zhai Yaohui asked, “Are you already together with Qiao Nan?” Zhai Sheng had given him a heads-up, meaning that he intended on getting married.
Since they were both at such an age, as long as they were serious about the relations.h.i.+p, marriage was a very natural step. Zhai Sheng was an extremely decisive person and would probably be even more decisive in marrying Qiao Nan than he had been when marrying Miao Miao at that time. It was just like how the Zhai family and the Qiu family had only found out about Zhai Sheng’s divorce from Qiu Chenxi after the couple’s marriage certificate had been changed into a divorce certificate.
So the only explanation for Zhai Sheng refusing to let Miao Miao and him meet Qiao Nan was that he had not even been able to get a hold of that lady whom he had taken a fancy to.
“How could that be? The chief has only known Sister Qiao for three days! No, they’ve only met three times!” Xiao Xu, who had been silent all this while, could no longer hold it in. He leaped in to elaborate on Qiao Nan’s and Zhai Sheng’s situation. He was sure that the chief and Sister Qiao had not been on close terms before his mom had asked Sister Qiao to take care of the chief.
Even in the three days that followed, the relations.h.i.+p between the chief and Sister Qiao had not progressed to that stage either. How could they have talked about marriage in that case? What a joke!
Zhai Yaohui and Miao Jing were flabbergasted. It was already strange enough that their son had finally changed his mind. Even though their son had finally agreed to remarry, they had simply treated it as though their son had finally found someone pleasing to his eyes and someone he felt he would be able to live with. Neither Zhai Yaohui nor Miao Jing had ever thought about things like love.
It had initially been enough that their son was finally willing to get married. Love was just an extravagant and unnecessary thing. As such, this was an even greater surprise to them.
A woman whom their son had only met three times had been able to change his mind about marriage. So it was impossible that their son simply thought of that person as tolerable. Zhai Yaohui thought that his son certainly had some feelings for that woman.
Upon confirming that Zhai Sheng had truly changed his mind about marriage this time and that it had been because of love, Zhai Yaohui was now at ease and was no longer in a hurry. “All right. Thankfully, your mom and I are not in a hurry and can stay in Qingshui Town for the time being. You should work quickly. You may think that it’s all the same without children, but women may not share your opinion. If you work any slower, this might become a lifetime regret. During this period of time, your mom and I will spend more time with your grandma and grandpa. Anyway, you’ve only hurt your leg. You’re not disabled. Be careful that she might be s.n.a.t.c.hed away if you’re not fast enough.”
In this kind of matter, he who strikes first prevails, while he who strikes late fails.
Even though the woman whom Zhai Sheng had taken a liking to was already forty years old and single, she could not be too bad if Zhai Sheng had fallen for her. Considering she had met Zhai Sheng, wouldn’t others have discovered her as well? After all, precious things would always be discovered. Zhai Sheng might not be the only one. If he worked slowly, she might very well be s.n.a.t.c.hed away from him right under his nose. At that time, he would be in despair, and Zhai Sheng would never get remarried.
Sometimes, one’s worst fears came true.
Zhai Yaohui reminded Zhai Sheng that Qiao Nan was a good lady. Even though she was already forty, he might not be her only suitor. He could be bold and daring in pursuing her.